Page:Lars Henning Söderhjelm - The Red Insurrection in Finland in 1918 - tr. Annie Ingebord Fausbøll (1920).djvu/123

 In reality all the old government offices were kept, only new and quite inexperienced people were appointed to the offices, and the names were altered. All "boards" made into "councils." The railway board became the railway council, the school board the school council, and so on.

An eager legislative activity was, however, started at once, but its underlying intention was obvious enough: the object was to procure adherents also outside the Government's own circle. Judging from everything, it was a great disappointment to the Red that the country population was so little revolutionary as it proved to be. It was therefore hastily overwhelmed with benefits. First it was the turn of the proletariat in the country: crofters and small-holders. By an act of the 31st January, it was proclaimed that the latter could continue to cultivate their soil, and that even without paying any sort of rent. A later decree did, however, in certain cases compensate the owner, and in the shape of State bonds. Also the freeholders obtained easements: the duty of making and keeping up roads was shifted to the State in return for a certain tax, the amount of which was to be fixed later on.

Another group of citizens, whose animosity to the Red rule roused the great resentment and indignation of the new men in power, was the teachers, especially the teaching staff of the board schools. About one-fourth of all the persuasive articles published were meant for the teaching class. It is funny to see how completely the Red were puzzled by the opposition of these men and women. So convinced were they that everything in this world turned on money that they could not make out why poor people should side with capitalists. Salaries were therefore raised considerably, and it was expected that the teachers would come forward and thank.